The sound of acoustic guitars being strummed, bongos being drummed and singing voices staying in tune with it all, were the main attraction at the Guitar Club at UCF's kickoff event on Labor Day.
With views of lush-green playing fields, sugar-white beach volleyball courts and, of course, the serene Lake Claire, the club picked a relaxing location to spend the day sharing their favorite hobby.
President of the Guitar Club at UCF, Stephen Bassett, said that the club tries to host a kickoff event every semester.
"I want new members to be excited about Guitar Club," said Bassett, who is a junior studying pre-law.
Bassett said that there are about 30-40 members who attend the meetings that are held every other Monday in the Student Union, but the club has around 180 members on Facebook. Anyone can join the Guitar Club at UCF – even those who don't know how to play the guitar. For those who would like to learn, there is a fee of $5 per semester for guitar lessons for members.
Bassett began playing the guitar 5-6 years before joining the club his freshman year. He owns four guitars, his favorite of which, is the Fender Stratocaster.
Vice President Rosemary Jensen, who was overseeing the tie dying table and laying out food for the event, said that the purpose of the club is getting people together, no matter what level they are at, and really appreciating the music. Jensen, who is a junior studying biology, started playing the electric guitar when she was in the seventh grade, and during her freshman year of high school she learned how to play the classical guitar, which is currently her favorite.
Jensen said that soon the Guitar Club will start holding workshops hosted by one of their sponsors, Broadway Music Academy, in which they will provide instructors who will give their different perspectives and instruction on the art of guitar playing.
Stu Kalver and Tevin Castellow kicked off the guitar playing for the event with a duet of solid strumming.
"I like the atmosphere," said Kalver, who is a junior studying English education. "Music is a language where no one is yelling at each other, except when you make your guitar scream."
Kalver has been a member of the guitar club since fall 2010.
Castellow, freshman and architecture major, said that he "came to jam" at the kickoff event.
"We're pretty much getting down – free styling," said Castellow, who's been playing the guitar for five years now. His favorite guitars are the Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Strat.
Treasurer, Alex Bosak, said that what he enjoyed most about the kickoff event was "interacting with people and being outside." Bosak, a junior studying micro and molecular biology with a pre-professional concentration, has been a member of the Guitar Club for three years.
During the event, News 13 showed up on site, and interviewed Bosak for his take on the recent ban on alcohol within the Greek community.
Ryan Pabon, a freshman studying journalism, has been playing the guitar for four years and is new to the club this semester. He was playing his acoustic guitar and singing "Time of your life" by Green Day on top of one of the picnic tables under the pavilion.
"It's a chill environment," said Pabon of the event. "I like the opportunity to meet people who are better than me and to teach people who are not as proficient."
The 30-plus attendees at the Guitar Club at UCF's kickoff event were accompanied by about half as many guitars – mostly acoustic, due to the power supply limitation – ranging in color from cherry red to natural. Veterans and newcomers alike played their guitars, conversed about music and basked in the beautiful weather outdoors with other guitar enthusiasts.
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article!